Tag: World University of Design

World University of Design Gives Artists Center Stage by Hosting India’s First Ever Performing Arts Conference

MUMBAI, MAY 13, 2024: The World University of Design (WUD), Sonipat hosted the first International Performing Arts Conference in India, known as Anveshana. The conference aimed to foster dialogues and discussions to reimagine how traditional arts can be preserved, enhanced, and made relevant in today’s global context. Additionally, it also aimed to promote collaboration and synergy among all art forms, including the three domains of dance, music, and dramatics by providing these artists a common and collaborative platform.

Anveshana Book of Proceedings Univeiled During Anveshana

The event showcased keynote speeches by industry experts, presentations, and performances by artists, highlighting the richness of Indian Music, Classical Dance, and Performing Arts. Renowned artists from India’s performing arts community graced the occasion, actively engaging with the audience. Revered figures such as Pt. Jaikishan Maharaj, Kathak Exponent and Senior Guru (retired), Kathak Kendra; Guru Shashidharan Nair, Eminent Choreographer, Kathakali and Chahhau Exponent, and Ms. Tripura Kashyap, Co-founder of Creative Movement Therapy Association of India (CMTAI), were honored as the Guests of Honour, lending their expertise and prestige to the event.

Speaking about the significance of India’s first Performing Arts Conference, Guru Shashidharan Nair, Eminent Choreographer, Kathakali and Chahhau Exponent, expressed, “Formal education in performing arts was deemed essential in today’s world. The establishment of performing arts departments in universities was considered a significant step, as it not only preserved and promoted our traditional art forms but also educated our youth about allied art forms. The conference was a unique academic conference where authors and artists from diverse fields converged. I was excited to witness this exceptional event, featuring outstanding keynote speakers, brilliant performances, and insightful research paper presentations.”

‘’Anveshana 2024 embodies the spirit of innovation and collaboration in the performing arts domain. As we gather to explore the intersection of tradition and modernity, let us ignite conversations, inspire creativity, and pave the way for a renaissance in Indian performing arts. Together, let us embrace the transformative power of interdisciplinary collaboration and technological advancement, stated, ‘’ Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Vice Chancellor, World University of Design, while addressing the need for this conference.

Keynote addresses were delivered by luminaries including Maestro Saskia Rao-de Haas, World-renowned Cellist, and Educationalist; Sandhya Raman, Indian Costume Designer and Founder, Desmania Design; Pandit Shubhendra Rao, Indian Classical Musician, Cultural Entrepreneur, and Music Educator; and Lakshmi Krishnamurthy, Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research Awardee.

These sessions covered a wide range of topics, including traditional and innovative approaches within the arts, the evolution of music education, and the modern reinterpretation of the guru-shishya Parampara. Discussions delved into the significance of costume designing in dance, the transformative potential of Dance Movement Therapy (DMT), and the interdisciplinary benefits of traditional art forms. Moreover, speakers explored how technology can seamlessly integrate into traditional dance forms, creating new possibilities for expression and engagement. Topics such as the use of artificial intelligence in choreography, digital archiving, and the integration of modern educational tools were discussed.

Ms. Tripura Kashyap, Pioneer of Dance Movement Therapy in India and Co-founder of CMTAI, reflected, ‘‘The performing arts act as a bridge between our inner landscape and external reality. Nowadays, most teachers encourage their students to be more investigative and analytical so that learning dance does not become a dry, mechanical, monotonous experience. The Anveshana conference is making a huge effort to expand the scope of physical literacy, to encourage artistic exchange and verbal dialogues between dancers, choreographers, actors, directors, and musicians who otherwise work in silos. This fosters the dynamic evolution of performing arts to constantly undergo self-renewal and change.

“In my journey to enhance music education in India, I have dedicated myself to developing innovative teaching methods and creating resources tailored to this cause. Beyond merely conveying technical skills, teaching music involves igniting a passion for exploration within young minds, encouraging them to uncover their musical abilities. Conferences such as Anveshana are instrumental in amplifying awareness regarding the indispensable role of music education. They serve as transformative platforms, empowering educators to instill a lasting adoration for music in their students, thus enriching lives and communities through the power of music, ‘’added, Maestro Saskia Rao-de Haas, World-renowned Cellist, Composer, Cultural Entrepreneur, and Educationalist.

The conference commenced after the unveiling of the Anveshana Book of Proceedings, which features papers and performance abstracts from both national and international authors and artists across different institutions. This book stands out as one of the very few in India featuring student and faculty presentations on performing arts in an ISBN book.

Dr. Parul Purohit Vats, Dean of the School of Performing Arts at WUD, shared her excitement, stating, “I was thrilled by the exceptional response to Anveshana. It represented a pivotal moment in nurturing adaptable and skilled performing artists, fostering transformative conversations, and shaping the future of traditional dance forms through collaborations between tradition and innovation. Our conference explored how technology could enhance traditional dance, creating new avenues for artistic expression. I was delighted to present this collection of 33 papers and 10 performance abstracts, showcasing a fusion of tradition and innovation, and opening new avenues for artistic discovery.”

The conference concluded with breathtaking classical dance and musical performances by both artists and students, signifying a harmonious step towards global unity and collective action for performing artists across all domains. Moreover, it intended to encourage students to consider performing arts as a viable career option. Participants benefited from enlightening speeches by guest speakers, departing with practical advice and fresh ideas. Ample networking opportunities were provided, enabling attendees to establish valuable new connections within the dance industry.

World University of Design powers the drive towards a Sustainable Future

World University of Design powers the drive towards a Sustainable Future

Sonepat: World University of Design conducted a Design Thinking and Service Design Workshop – sort of a mini Global Goals Jam – today on World Industrial Design Day. The workshop was attended by educators from different schools and colleges in and around Sonepat, Haryana who were trained in the nuances of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by UNDP and how they are applied towards development and sustainability.

In this one day virtual workshop spearheaded by Dr. Sanmitra Chitte – Dean of School of Management – principals and teachers of the participating schools were trained in the methodology of Design Thinking that leads towards Design Strategy. It emphasized on how Design Thinking could help them achieve one of the specific SDGs set aside by UNDP, focusing on the dire need to “Reduce the load of solid waste in and around the area we live in”. The participants were awarded certificates for their zeal and passion towards the idea of a sustainable future.

From a list of 17 goals (that must be fulfilled by 2030) advised for a better world, the University has chosen to participate in goals 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and 12 (responsible consumption and production) that are interdependent. As the chief mentor of the university, Dean, Dr. Sanmitra Chitte says, “The workshop is in line with curriculum that is taught at WUD’s School of Management, where we ensure that students are enabled to understand management from a different perspective and that they are all the time involved in innovative thinking ability. The students from school of Management are capable of generating strategies with the help of design thinking and are able to work on service design and also systems with Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, data indexing etc”

Design Thinking is the backbone of this workshop addressing the Sustainable Development Goal of Regenerative Cities; it is an indispensible subject that will be addressed under the NEP for curriculum at senior secondary school level. By holding this workshop attempt has been made to train and equip teachers who can in turn share inputs on problem solving with school students. The sole intent of the workshop was to enlighten them about the very concept of the term Design and its use across industries as a problem solving component; its reverence as the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Vice Chancellor, World University of Design says, “We are standing at the cusp of a large change, a major disruption. It is our duty to train our next generation in thinking innovatively to manage technology while making the planet more sustainable.”

For more information on World University of Design, please visit : www.world university of design.ac.in

World University of Design

World University of Design prepares to fight against Covid 19 Designs a super protective mask

New Delhi. The current wave of Covid 19 has shaken up not just the nation but the entire globe. Viral variant being more powerful is an airborne mutant for which single cloth masks and ordinary masks give insufficient protection. Most masks do not fit around the nose causing people to either wear them below their nose or to keep adjusting them. To combat this mind-boggling situation, the World University of Design has come up with a new design that provides utmost safety along with the ease of functionality.

Seeing the rise in Covid cases, fashion faculty Prof. Umair Khan of the World University of Design along with his students and some staff members have come up with a face mask that not just covers the nose, mouth, and chin but envelops them snugly. The mask has a specially designed extension that’s the USP of the mask, as it follows the contours around the nose and covers it completely. This ensures that the vents around the nose are blocked offering extra protection preventing the air from outside to slip in. The second most important outcome of the design is that it does not allow vapours from the breath to be expelled out and fog up the spectacles thereby making it extremely functional for persons wearing glasses. Thirdly, the design makes the mask a very comfortable one to be worn for long hours without having the need to adjust it time and again as it follows the contours.

Since the mask is made to cover the face securely and for long hours, it can be deemed successful in the current scenario as it does not allow air to sneak in through any channel but the mask and it minimizes the spread of droplets (source control) when the wearer sneezes or coughs.

Made with two layers of simple cotton fabric, the mask took a week’s time to reach its final version after trials and feedback from volunteers. As he designed the mask in the fashion lab along with his students, Prof. Umair Khan says, “I used the humble cotton fabric which is very effective, however, if a manufacturer likes it he could use a 2-layer cotton-silk mix or the 3-ply lightweight nonwoven material used for surgical masks. The design has been developed mindfully to fit any average Indian face size which can also be extended in case of larger/broader face structures.”

World University of Design over the period of merely 3 years, has been coming up with substantial designs that are in compliance with the dream of Aatmnirbhar Bharat and the mask here is also one of them. Last year, this time they had shared the design of a PPE kit. The mask to fight the second wave of Covid 19, when manufactured will not cost more than Rs. 15-20/- and that is indeed a great way of serving one’s nation.

International Women’s Day, World University of Design

World University of Design presented ‘YAJNASENI’ on International Women’s Day 2021

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, World University of Design celebrated one of the finest creations of Mother nature – the woman. A spectacular art show variegated with art works from three different genres of Indian female artists – senior, young and budding – awed one and all at RKG Art and Culture Center, 7-B, Basement, Dr. C.V. Raman Road, near Gurudwara, New Friends Colony, New Delhi on Friday, March 5th, 2021. The exhibition would continue showcasing the creations until Friday, March 12th, 2021.

‘YAJNASENI’ in its literal sense means “Born Out of Fire” and implies the various hurdles a woman has combated in her journey as she has evolved through the eras of time. ‘YAJNASENI’ – The Women Art Show is an attempt to showcase this particular fruition of women as a tribe, questioning the equation of domination and subordination. The show had been conceptualized so as to allow the audiences to view Draupadi as an individual in a parallel world where she is liberated whilst keeping her original image from the Mahabharata intact. The idea is to let the audience imbibe the cultural image of Draupadi by using her alter ego Yajnaseni which is exactly how the woman today sees herself – anchored to her roots yet living a free life on her own terms.

International Women’s Day, World University of Design

‘YAJNASENI’ will be featuring the Senior Artists to name few among many are Aishwarya Sultania, Bharti Prajapati, Bhavani GS, Dimple B Shah, Gayatri Apte, Gayatri Mathur, Gouri Vemula, Hemavathy Guha, Neerja Chandna Peters, Ruchi Chadha, Sangeeta Gupta, Shuchi Khanna, Sushma Yadav and Stephanie Arpels. Amongst the younger artists are Asma Bi, Aastha Mishra, Avni Bansal, Jyoti Bansal, Samridhi Khandelwal, Shweta Sharma, Sneha Lakhotia, Tanvi Jain and Tisha Mavi constituted the upcoming line of artists.

Curator Akansha Wadhwani, Assistant Professor at World University of Design said, “It’s high time we shift the paradigm towards creation of equal opportunities for women. On this occasion my sincere notes of appreciation also go out to the Men who help women come out of their traditional avatars into a more empowered, opinionated and constructive individual who can carve out paths to an egalitarian ecosystem.”

Chief Guest Shri Dinesh K Patnaik, Director General, ‎Indian Council for Cultural Relations said, “The exceptionally curated art show consisted of 30-35 vibrant pieces of art, artists who came together and portrayed their rendition of the woman then and the woman now. The mix of emotions, depictions and expertise owing to the different age groups and backgrounds of the artists made the event strikingly unique. The art pieces, though different from each other yet weaved in together beautifully into a fabric that hummed the fluidity of the feminine soul in the form of a mystical melody – strong yet delicate”.

World Design University (WUD) is India’s first university dedicated to educate students in the creative domain. Seated in the heart of the educational hub of India –Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat, Haryana – WUD plays the role of harbinger of a revolution in the education system in India. It is the torchbearer of breaking stereotypical educational patterns and has facilitated the shift of studies pertaining to design from being solely vocation-oriented to academic-oriented; thereby offering substantiated degrees (under section 2(f) and 22(l) of the UGC Act) to its students instead of mere diplomas and certificates. Established in 2018, World University of Design is a young university offering a myriad of programmes at undergraduate, post graduate and doctoral levels across disciplines like Architecture, Design, Fashion, Communication, Visual arts, Performing Arts & Management. Equipped with the largest portfolio of design courses in India, the university offers a number of cutting edge programs in computers & design, transportation design, animation & game design, UI/UX, film & video, built environment & habitat studies, design management, art education, curatorial practice etc.

World University of Design

World University of Design adds more feathers to its hat Talented students bring pride to the university

Chiseling its own abilities, innovating and emerging out as a winner is something that World University of Design excels at. It stands tall again as the talented students of WUD come home as winners of the most prestigious Design Challenges in India – Rugved Patil (M.Des Transportation Design) won the Automotive Design Competition (ADC) organized by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Gokul Gopi (M.Des Industrial Design) and his team won the D’source Corona Design Challenge organized by IIT Bombay, A third team (calling themselves Team Pentagon) comprising of Abhay Pratap Singh, Anand Singh and Mehak Singal (all from B.Des Product Design) and their faculty mentors Aditi Parikh and Rohit Kothari have reached the finals of Toycathon 2021 – the inter-ministerial initiative of Government of India!

Rugved Patil stood second in the recently concluded SIAM ADC 2021 that revolved around the theme “Influence of the New Normal on the Future of Automotive Design” amongst one hundred and fifty odd design aspirants from across the country. It is a matter of utmost pleasure that this future automobile designer has secured himself a spot in the country’s biggest Automotive Design Competition showcased his talent by showcasing a segway type shared mobility solution for the gen glass for the year 2040.

AatmaNirbhar Bharat project

Gokul Gopi and his team on the other hand designed a Japanese-inspired concept on “Sanitization of Rooms for Aggregate hotel chains that provide an online booking platform” keeping in mind the need of a post pandemic world – the very theme of the challenge this year. In an Open Design Challenge of choice, IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay allowed a sea of infinite ideas to the participants to present pertaining to sanitation, health and hygiene across industries and fields for a better India.

In their winning attempt, the team displayed a model that could let customers take normal vacations and feel safe back again allowing them to witness live streaming of sanitization of their hotel room prior to check-in! This would help achieve consumer satisfaction, enhancement of tourism and business building opportunities for holiday agencies and organized hotel chain companies.

Team Pentagon’s toy project will prove that superior toys & games can be created by Indians in India. Toycathon is an immensely ambitious mission of the current government, under AatmaNirbhar Bharat project, inviting talented young designers and thinkers to develop the gaming and toy industry of India. It is organized by Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell with support from All India Council for Technical Education, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of MSME, Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

World University of Design

World University of Design presented Artist Stephanie Le Beller Arpels with ‘2021 Critics’ Choice Award’

New Delhi: World University of Design has carved its own unique niche and is known to promote excellence in design, visual arts and performing arts amongst others. The institute seized the opportunity to honor French Artist Stephanie Le Beller Arpels with ‘2021 Critics’ Choice Award’ on Friday, February 19, 2021 at 67A, Friends Colony West, New Delhi.

World University of Design has instituted “Critics Choice Awards” in the field of Visual Arts to encourage and empower the diverse range of artists in the country. It looks at honoring talent showcasing the rich culture of art across India, across different languages, regions, cultures styles and themes. The Critics Choice Visual Art Awards aims to provide an opportunity for recognition for emerging artists. The award carries a specially designed Trophy and a certificate.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Artist Stephanie Le Beller Arpels
Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Artist Stephanie Le Beller Arpels

On the occasion proud Dr. Sanjay Gupta (Vice Chancellor, World University of Design) said. “Ms Stephanie Le Beller Arpels is a remarkable French artist who has through her works depicted the varied characters of one of nature’s most simple yet complex creations – the woman. I am honored to present the award to such a deserving and extraordinary self-taught artist; I am sure this will set a great example to talented young minds who know they have the potential but just need a slight push.”

One heard the very thrilled Stephanie say, “I am very honoured to receive the World University of Design Critic’s Choice Award. It is a wonderful initiative from WUD to support artists, and fits well in its innovative education philosophy and the values at the heart of the University. I am certain that the Critic’s Choice Award will contribute to bringing additional recognition to my work from collectors, and that it will encourage young artists to persevere no matter the challenges.”

The institute yearns to recognize great talent and nurture it; it believes in supporting budding minds and channelizes them in the right and rewarding direction. Critics’ Choice Award is the brainchild of Dr. Sanjay Gupta – Vice Chancellor, WUD and is one of the many ways of encouraging and promoting extraordinary artworks that substantiate the bigger purpose of art.

World University of Design welcomes the year with hope and a promising future New Courses added for the year 2021 and onwards

World University of Design announces the introduction of a well-thought array of new courses for Design School students in the new session. The courses are added keeping in view the current necessity of students pursuing the discipline across its various fields, along with enhancing their potential for future needs. Additions are made in the fields of Management, Architecture, Design and Performing Arts.

Management (BBA: 3 years, MBA: 2 years)

– Design Strategy & Innovation : In an interdisciplinary way, the course enables students to practice design strategy keeping in mind its very execution. In addition to dedicated studio space for heads-down work, students have access to model-making, rapid prototyping, and multimedia technology.

– Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence & Design Thinking (DA.AI.DT) : The future of the business world is focused to use advanced technologies in order to take businesses forward. The said curriculum will equip students with expertise in data science, artificial intelligence & machine learning which they would bring into play while swishing through organizational needs and strategies while navigating the ethical, psychological, and societal implications. The program is driven to help students make potent decisions, by making most optimal use of emerging technologies and design thinking.

– Service Design : The program is conceptualized to cater to the needs of the service sector including healthcare, finance, IT, travel, retail, education and even oil and gas. The programme will prepare students on (a) creation of new consumer services by identifying human needs, transformational services, and delivery in complex organisations, for example in retail, banking and hospitality (b) development & innovation in public service and policy in areas such as transportation, health and education, and (c) speculative futures to envision radically new services and user experiences driven by technological, environmental and social challenges.

Architecture (M.Arch 2 years)

– Sustainable Architecture : The two years’ master’s course aims at nurturing a specific skillset in students directed towards sustainability through green building, it’s certifications, climate responsive design simulation processes, and buildings science. The course will help students prepare for GRIHA and/or LEED certifications.

– Digital Architecture : Digital technology is an indispensible part of our lives and so has made its way into architecture and is revolutionizing it. This course will cover various digital software tools and its design processes (parametric and generative), architectural visualization, advanced construction, and building automation, integrating AR/VR and Architecture, Parametric Software skill sets, Digital fabrication and material research, Digital Design, Robotic interface and interactive architecture Design Tools, Artificial Intelligence etc.

Design (BDes: 4 years, MDes: 2 years)

– Computer Science & Design : This course is designed to achieve just such an interdisciplinary skill-set and equip graduates for many opportunities across many fields such as the arts, entertainment/ games, mobile application development, multimedia, product/web design, cyber security, digital analytics and other interactive systems across all sectors. There’ll be an increasing focus on user experience, Interaction Design and Design Methods in all IT products and services.

– User Experience & Interaction Design : The course is professionally focused to equip students with the specialist skills to conceive, prototype and produce human-centered experiences in an interactive digital context. The program focuses on computer technology and usability problems faced by computer users globally; consequently teaching the students the methodologies needed to solve these problems. It will provide students with an experience in working on live industry briefs covering varied topics such as UX for wearable technologies, smart cities, data visualization and social transformation.

Performing Arts (BPA/Integrated MPA/MPA – Music/ Dance/ Theatre)

The world of Performing Arts is ever-changing. A study of the performing arts therefore, must include linked expressions of individual, communal and societal identities. Faculty at World University of Design believes that the confluence of the performing arts creates a microcosm of the universe and that the influence of the performing arts and are informed by, perception of culture, gender, politics and regionality. The added courses in Performing Arts are aimed at nurturing a professional not only in the field of specialisation, but also throughout various fields in terms of performance management, production, promotion and presentation. Thus the program is strategically designed to prepare graduates not only towards a career in the entertainment industry – a prime ground for the performing arts – but also in the corporate and developmental world.

The undergraduate course will prepare the student with a strong base in the theories of performance, the nuances of the classical, folk and contemporary arts, the rudiments of production and presentation along with rigorous insight into the field of specialisation viz: Dance (Classical /contemporary) or Music Studies (Classical /modern) or Theatre Arts (Classical & experimental). They will be exposed to the practical and theoretical practices of performance and introduced to literary, historical, traditional and cultural explorations of performing arts across cultures.

For more information on World University of Design, please visit : www.worlduniversityofdesign.ac.in

A Wise-Chancellor’s Wish

By Prof. Sanjay Gupta, PhD, Vice-Chancellor, World University of Design

Union Budget 2021-22 is the most anticipated event that every sector has its eyes on. While the pandemic staggered the economic growth of the country in the year 2020, it taught lessons in its own unique way – the biggest take-home being the need to be self-reliant. To achieve self-reliance the upcoming budget needs to invest more in make-in-India as also Design-in-India besides ensuring that both gets supported by a renewed emphasis on education, vocational training and infrastructures of universities.

The past year has highlighted the value of digitization and remote work environment. Schools and colleges have been no exception. It thus makes it evident that there will be high expectations from the government to provide a strengthened internet groundwork and even tougher data protection as more and more educational institutes will look at the medium to reach out to students, to teach and to help students get past their curriculum; thereby requiring students’ information to be critically guarded.

At the same time, as a Design-oriented institution, World University of Design hopes to see improved grants from the government in the field of education especially design education. Design assists innovation – the most powerful engine of economic growth, the future of a new-age India. The notion of “Atmanirbharta” or self-reliance would totally lie on the shoulders of the youth who would need to be equipped with not just better educational 4.0 but also with design thinking to enable innovation across diversified sectors & products. Design is an important as well as much sought out aspect in the current scenario owing to the shifting consumer trends from mere functionality to aesthetics and user-friendliness of products. It is natural at the moment to expect more measures to be taken in the upcoming fiscal in the domains of innovation, research, and technology – all of them benefit the basic infrastructure of an autonomous nation not depending upon imports from vigorously growing manufacturing giants like China and smaller ones like Vietnam, Myanmar, etc.

At WUD we also believe that whilst causing a major alteration in way of life in 2020 the pandemic brought the focus squarely on digitization in a game changing way. Businesses transformed, moved to e-platforms, and in so doing changed consumer behavior altogether. In the post-pandemic era, many businesses are expected to thrive on virtual platforms making returns on investment much larger, customers will continue receiving merchandise on their doorstep making their lives convenient while buying the best in quality and variety from a centralized global market. This said the situation would need a dramatically good number of creative thinkers working on online apps compatible with various OS and robust customer service and logistics systems to provide top-class services – leading to a flux in the need of D-School graduates. The era, if well tapped could be seen as an opportunity to take India a notch above other developing nations, by making use of fresh innovative minds to invent something revolutionary; next by generating employment for the executing team members, marketing team ending into a long and comprehensive chain supplying to the end consumer.

As a University that is home to over 700 students and 40 resident faculty members, World University of Design seeks information in the union budget announcement about a safe, well networked and efficient vaccination programme for students. It is a necessity to provide the Covid19 vaccine to pupils across the country so that physical classes could be restored. While distant learning has been a great way of teaching all along the past one year and as an institute, WUD never ceased its proceedings in teaching its students, it is mandatory for students of a Design Institute to practically be present, learn while doing, from each other, and be exposed to new ideas and techniques.

We are certain that the Narendra Modi government will do justice to its own motto and strengthen the connection between its ideals and the strengthening of the nation via its students.